A human rights activist who founded an all-girls school in
Pakistan and his 15-year-old daughter who was shot in the head by a Taliban
gunman will receive the 2013 Reflections of Hope Award from the Oklahoma City
National Memorial & Museum. Thursday, officials said they would honor
Malala Yousufzai and her father at a reception and dinner later this year in
honor of the 18th anniversary of the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing that
killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. The father will receive the award
on his daughters behalf during his first trip to the United States since the
Taliban's October assassination attempt on Malala. They are being honored for their hope they
displayed in political violence. Her father inspired her to get an education and
founded an all girls school Khushal Public School, an institution he still
directs. Malala was an activist who attended the school until Feb 9 when the
Taliban shot her in the head on the school bus she was riding home from
classes. They targeted her because she promoted girls' education and
"Western thinking" and criticized the militant group's behavior when
it took over the scenic Swat Valley where she lived. Malala’s story has
captured global attention and sparked outrage in Pakistan and other countries.
She was airlifted and taken to receive special care to reconstruct her skull on
Saturday. Both expressed how grateful they were to receive the award.
I was
astonished when I read about what took place in Pakistan. An innocent girl was
shot because she was standing up for something that she thought was important
and needed to be changed. Her tragedy represents the struggle for women’s
rights in Pakistan and is a threat for people, especially women trying to get
an education. This girl was targeted just because she promoted girls’ education
and now since this tragedy has happened I’m sure it has raised concerns for
people globally but especially in Pakistan. Now parents and educators have to
live in fear of their children being threatened at school or at home because
they’re trying to get an education. My question is how far are people going to
have to go before something is done about this? Innocent People’s lives are being
taken from them and nothing is being done about it. We’re supposed to encourage
people to obtain an education but it makes it more difficult to do that when shootings
like this is taking place. Students should not have to worry about safety issues while attending school. This has a big effect on education and if something isn’t
done about this then less people will want to go to school and better
themselves for their futures.
Leslie Belk
2/8/13 11:45 am
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